2005 Inaugural Home Opener vs Diamondbacks
After 33 years, D.C. finally heard 'Play ball!' again.
When the first pitch sailed across home plate at RFK Stadium on April 14, 2005, it wasn't just the start of a ballgame—it was the end of a 33-year exile. Major League Baseball finally returned to Washington, D.C., as the Nationals faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in a home opener that felt more like a civic resurrection than a nine-inning contest. The air crackled with decades of pent-up hope, and every cheer carried the weight of a city reclaiming its baseball soul.
Quick Facts
- Opponent
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Stadium
- RFK Stadium
- Date
- April 14, 2005
- Result
- Washington Nationals won 5-3
- Key player
- Livan Hernandez (pitcher, also hit a home run)
- Attendance
- Over 45,000 (sold out)
Lore & Background
The 2005 season was a homecoming for Washington, which had lost its previous MLB team, the Senators, in 1971. The Nationals, relocated from Montreal, were embraced as a fresh start. The home opener was a celebration of resilience, with fans flooding RFK Stadium—a venue that had hosted the Senators in their final years. The game itself was a microcosm of the season: gritty, surprising, and full of heart. Livan Hernandez, the starting pitcher, became an instant legend by hitting a home run and earning the win, a feat that captured the magical spirit of the day. The crowd's energy was palpable, with chants of 'Let's go Nats!' echoing through the old stadium, a sound that would define the franchise's early years.
Reader's Guide
The 2005 Inaugural Home Opener was more than a game—it was a city-wide reunion. Over 45,000 fans packed RFK Stadium, a venue that had gathered dust and memories since the Senators' final game in 1971. The sellout crowd didn't just watch; they participated, turning the stands into a sea of red, white, and blue. On the mound, Livan Hernandez pitched eight gritty innings, allowing three runs, but his legend was sealed in the third inning when he launched a two-run home run—a feat so rare for a pitcher that it felt like destiny. The Nationals held on to win 5-3, with closer Chad Cordero earning the save. That afternoon, the city didn't just fall in love with its new team; it fell in love with the idea that baseball in D.C. could be magical again, setting the tone for a season that would defy every low expectation and cement the Nationals as the heart of the capital.
Did You Know?
- Livan Hernandez's home run was the first by a Nationals pitcher in franchise history.
- The game was played at RFK Stadium, which had previously hosted the Washington Senators from 1962 to 1971.
- President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch, marking the first time a sitting president did so for a Nationals home opener.
- The attendance of 45,596 was the largest for a baseball game at RFK since the Senators' final game in 1971.
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